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The couple mentioned the favor that I asked of them last night, stressing that the only thing I told them to do was to take a look at the records.
They seem to be mindful that the other tigers would think that I pushed them to consider Kim Shinrok.
However, the couple didn’t come here upon my request.
“We looked at the records of the torture of the caught bears so far, at the request of the benefactor.”
“It was flawless. Looking at the content and result of the torture, we wouldn’t have imagined that this child did it.”
“He was too good that we had to put up that act.”
The couple talked to me again after informing Kim Shinrok and Hwang Jiho about the situation.
“We met with family members we haven’t met for quite a long time and heard about the benefactor.”
The tiger couple asked around about me?
Well, I asked them for such a big favor so it’s not surprising.
However, their next words weren’t expected.
“We will make sure to offer flowers to the benefactor’s family next time.”
“We will continue to stay in the garden as long as Hwangho-nim allows us. We can’t communicate using a device inside, so please send us a letter next time.”
…So the tiger couple met with the other tigers who came to the charnel house.
A lot of people from the Tiger Clan came during the first death anniversary of my family in this world.
Hwang Jiho spoke before I could.
“Alright. I’ll call you next time.”
“Thank you.”
I guess the Tiger Clan really intends to offer flowers for my family next year.
I am grateful that my family would be commemorated by more people, but I was unsure how to react to hearing those words from the tiger couple.
“We will leave the torture of that bear up to Kim Shinrok. We’ll inform Jukho.”
“We will also observe.”
“That bear is still under your jurisdiction. We’d just make sure not to kill it or drive it crazy.”
After Hwang Jiho’s words, the tiger couple left, saying that they would go to the bamboo forest first.
We also went out, but Kim Shinrok decided to stay in the Eunyeonggwan, saying that he would prepare for the torture.
After bidding goodbye to Hwang Jiho, Kim Shinrok spoke to me.
“Thank you, Jo Euishin-gun. I’m always indebted to you.”
…Does he really have to thank me?
I’m not sure what I did deserves appreciation.
I couldn’t say it openly, so I decided to just gloss over it.
“…It’s nothing. Please take good care of that bear.”
“Yes, leave it to me.”
Kim Shinrok looked brighter than when we first entered.
He seemed to be motivated.
I felt relieved at the way things turned out.
“Jo Euishin, why don’t you stop by the mansion today? Let’s have dinner together.”
There’s nothing important to talk about right now, so I’d normally say no.
But considering the trespassing I did against the Tiger Clan today, I couldn’t say no.
I nodded reluctantly.
Hwang Jiho would usually laugh at this kind of situation, but he didn’t.
“I left an air shuttle in front of the gate. Let’s use that.”
“Yeah.”
Hwang Jiho got on first, and I followed suit.
I sat facing him.
He’s been strangely quiet since we parted ways with the couple and Kim Sihnrok.
Having nothing to say, I also kept quiet.
When the submarine began to float, Hwang Jiho spoke.
“Eyes the same with the couple…”
Hwang Jiho stared into my eyes.
He wouldn’t see those eyes, because neither the couple nor Kim Shinrok was around us.
Hwang Jiho was lost in thought.
“I heard you were an adult in your previous world. But compared to my age, you are still a child.”
This old man is well aware of his age.
I don’t know why he’s suddenly talking about this though.
He narrowed his eyes and spoke again.
“Jo Euishin, don’t tell me, ever since that day until now, you’re…”
Hwang Jiho didn’t finish his sentence.
Until the air shuttle reached the mansion, we remained quiet.
The silence was too heavy and I struggled to think about other things.
‘I wonder what we’d talk about in the mansion today. Maybe about torture? If we decide in advance how to move according to the information we’d get, it will be easier to deal with variables later on.’
We got off the mansion’s front gate, yet the silence continued.
Hwang Jiho walked ahead.
‘He said we’re gonna have dinner, so maybe we’re going to the main house? No, we would need to go to Eunho’s annex to talk… These are matters that Eunho has to know anyway.’
The main house where Eunho’s descendants lived.
The annex where Eunho himself stayed.
I thought we’d head to one of those two places, but my prediction was a good miss.
Hwang Jiho walked over to the hanok annex.
I was surprised that we were headed to the traditional house, and Hwang Jiho seemed to have read my thoughts.
“I have no intention of talking about much today. I will treat the benefactor to some food that I made and let him rest.”
Eunho doesn’t come out of his annex often because he might encounter the descendants or other tigers.
Overall, he’s concerned about his traces being revealed.
Does it mean I don’t get to meet Eunho or his descendants today?
Did he really just call me over to eat?
…He should’ve just let me go back to my dorm if he had nothing to say.
‘…Should I leave now? No, it’s not polite. We already come this far.’
I already committed a lot of crimes today, so I can’t just refuse.
I headed to the hanok eventually.
I thought I should finish my meal quickly and go back, but all my thoughts disappeared when I heard a sound from inside the annex.
Woof woof!
The sound of an angel calling me!
The genius angel knew I was here, and he came out to greet me.
I don’t know how Olmu heard me with those adorable little ears of his, and how his little feet can run this fast.
My genius Olmu goes beyond impossible.
“I put him on standby since I thought you’d want to see Shinsoo. I think that was a good decision… I don’t think you’re listening to me though, Jo Euishin.”
Hwang Jiho said something, but I couldn’t hear him because of the overwhelming adoration that I had for Olmu.
“Hwangho, Jo Euishin. Hello.”
There was someone else in the house besides the angel.
It was Jeokho.
Compared to yesterday, Jeokho’s eyes were glaring.
Among all the tigers, it seemed to be Jeokho that Hwang Jiho wants to share a meal with.
‘…So he wasn’t in Eunyeonggwan.’
Just like he did in the bamboo forest, I thought Jeokho would hide.
Judging from Jeokho’s expression, he seems to have been waiting in the mansion all this time.
Jeokho spoke again.
“…Did your talk end well?”
“Yes, Kim Shinrok will torture the bear.”
“Is that so?”
Jeokho’s face became relieved.
He was worried about his son all this time.
Hwang Jiho began to talk about the conversation with the tiger couple and the thing that I did.
Jeokho didn’t say anything, but it was clear that he was sorry that he wasn’t with his son when he was mentally distressed.
Seeing that face, Hwang Jiho asked.
“I heard Kim Shinrok met the couple when he was young. Did you know that?”
Jeokho had a faint smile at the mention of the young Kim Shinrok, but his face hardened again.
He shook his head.
“…I didn’t know. I haven’t talked much with my son about the bast. I haven’t had any contact with the couple as well. The last time I met them was before I was tied up.”
“You talked to the couple back then?”
Hwang Jiho looked a little surprised.
“I visited them once. It’s hard to say that we had a proper conversation since we talked through a door.”
Jeokho talked about what happened then.
Before he turned himself in, he went to the couple to apologize.
But the couple refused to meet him face to face, and they rejected his apology.
“They said they didn’t want to meet me. I stepped down since I can’t force them to accept my apology.”
“…I see.”
Jeokho has not visited the couple since then.
I experienced having people around me who loitered around, almost as if to force me to forgive them.
It seems like Jeokho is not like them.
I thought it was good that the couple didn’t go through what I went through.
The annex fell silent after.
“…Someone’s here.”
Jeokho looked up and glanced outside.
Hwang Jiho was calm as if he knew that someone would come.
“The awaited guest is here.”
Awaited guest?
It seems like I wasn’t the only one who received an invite to dinner.
I thought about who it could be, but only candidates came to mind.
The door opened soon enough and the guest appeared.
“…”
It was Baekho-gun.
It was an unexpected appearance.
It wasn’t strange for Baekho-gun to come to the hanok, but Hwang Jiho introduced him as a guest.
Woof woof!
Olmu, who was in my arms, barked happily when he saw Baekho-gun.
However, he stooped barking as if he sensed something.
He looked warily at Baekho-gun’s eyes.
“…Hwangho, don’t tell me!”
Jeokho’s astonished voice rang out in the hanok.
Hwang Jiho looked satisfied when he saw his reaction.
“Hahahaha! Now you noticed it.”
Hwang Jiho began to laugh.
The guest seems to be behind Baekho-gun.
“Come, you’ve come a long way. Take a seat.”
I forgot to breathe when I saw who it was.
Liking my reaction very much, Hwang Jiho spoke with a bright voice.
“Tonight is not just about dinner, Jo Euishin.”
The guest was small so I couldn’t see him well behind Baekho-gun.
Soon, the guest stepped forward.
The guest appeared with a large swirl of his small limbs, dragging a carrier the size of his body from behind.
“Hi, Hwangho! Jeokho! Hi to you too Shinsoo, and you human!”
It was Hyangrok, looking overly bright as he looked at Heokho.
The face gave me the creeps.
Hwang Jiho is going to make Jeokho and I drink a…!
“You said you need customized medicine for the human and the legendary tiger, right? I brought a lot of ingredients. I’ll prepare it right away!”
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